Heal thyself: how the cosmetic surgery diet can boost your recovery

cosmetic surgery diet

It’s no secret that we are what we eat, and a good diet is directly linked to our overall health and wellbeing. The impact of your nutritional status on the outcome of surgery has also been well documented so we decided to develop the Karidis Cosmetic Surgery Diet as part of our commitment to supporting our patients at every stage of their journey.

Shape up for surgery

For an optimal outcome, we would recommend adopting the cosmetic surgery diet for at least a month to six weeks before surgery. Increasing your intake of protein is essential as it stimulates collagen production, helps new blood vessels to form, aids wound contraction and boosts tissue remodelling, all of which are essential after any surgical procedure. Low protein levels can also impact your immune function, making it harder to fight infection.

A diet rich in antioxidants is also recommended; as well as helping to fight the inflammation and oxidative stress caused by your surgical procedure, they will generally improve skin quality and boost your facial surgery results.

Patients that are contemplating body contouring procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction are often on restrictive diets and although it is important to be at or near your ideal body weight, being deficient in macronutrients can affect your recovery from surgery. Carbohydrates are our bodies’ preferred source of energy and essential for wound healing. Similarly, healthy fats protect our organs and carry fat-soluble vitamins around the body where they are required for healing.

Smoothie your way to a speedier recovery

In the first few days after surgery, our diet focuses on smoothies, soups and salads that are packed full of nutrients, yet easy to eat and tempting to the palate. Once you are back to full meals, we advise clean proteins, as well as vitamin and mineral-rich vegetables and fruits that promote immunity and cell regeneration.

Cosmetic surgery can also have a profound impact on patient’s mental wellbeing as well as their bodily health, particularly during the recovery process, so we advise on ‘happy foods’ that can help boost your mood.

Enhanced patient care

Offering cosmetic surgery patients this enhanced level of patient care is gaining traction both here in the UK and around the world. Last year, an article was published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal that outlined the importance of nutrition in plastic surgery and provided a guide to practitioners in how to integrate this strategy in their practice.

At Karidis Clinic, we have joined with leading nutritionist Yvonne Wake whose approach to nutrition and wellbeing aligns with our own practice philosophy.
“Cosmetic surgery is a significant investment of time and money so it’s the ideal time to address every aspect of your life. There is no point spending thousands on a facelift if you don’t ensure your skin looks the very best it can by getting all the nutrients it needs or by improving your sleeping patterns. Equally, there is no point undergoing a very invasive surgical procedure such as a tummy tuck with a lengthy recovery time, if you’ve not established healthy eating and exercise habits to maintain your results.”

The first step is to organise a consultation, either in person, over the phone or by Skype, with Yvonne who will discuss your lifestyle, exercise, diet and sleep patterns, as well as your motivation for surgery. A blood test to identify any deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can also be useful. Ideally, this will be at least few weeks before surgery so you can introduce Yvonne’s individually-tailored recommendations into your daily routine, but even if your timescale is shorter, Yvonne can provide advice and guidance on how best to prepare for surgery in a smaller time window and how to boost healing afterwards.

To find out more about our latest patient care initiative, call 0203 811 3185 to speak to one of the team.